About eight years ago, Roberts lost his father to pancreatic cancer at age 69. His grandfather died at 47 from a heart attack, his uncle at 40, also from a heart complaint. In the family theres that thing in the background, so theres always an awareness of that, he says. You have to be on top of all you possibly canto try to see the red flags, deal with them and make sure were not going to have them become big problems.

Encouragingly, it is never too late to start. Whether youre 50, 60 or 70, you can do something to make a positive change. We shouldnt think of ourselves as being old at any phase, he says. I know we have an ageing process, but we can do anythingWe can change anybody and add years to healthy lifespan, as well as probably longevity.

He is as committed to his own health and fitness as you might expect, undertaking some four hours of low-intensity cardio weekly, usually on his exercise bike. Some days he does this at 5.30am (his typical rising time), some days at 9pm. Then theres his two weekly sessions of quite high intensity cardio, one session of very high intensity cardio, heavy lifting two to three times a week, lighter lifting once a week and tennis once or twice a week. Alongside all this, he tries to fit in a weekly infrared sauna, to boost recovery and circulation, and cold showers for five minutes most days.

He averages six and a quarter hours sleep a night but his wearable WHOOP device tells him his ratio of deep sleep is high, so the shut-eye he gets is great quality.

On the dietary front, he is not obsessive: It needs to be [that] you enjoy food. His is roughly 70 per cent vegan, the rest mostly fish. He eats red meat once a week (it gets the iron levels up) and treats himself to a glass or two of good red wine about three nights a week. There really isnt one food thats a bad food, he says.

He takes only a limited amount of supplements vitamin D, occasionally potassium and believes that while monitoring your data through wearable tech is helpful, it should not dominate your life.

He may be responsible for many a famous physique, but hes adamant that we shouldnt get bogged down in the body beautiful. It has to be fit for purpose.

Roberts lives in Battersea, south west London, and has his children, 21 and 19, at home with him often when theyre back from university. When not working, or working out, he likes travelling, and describes himself as a big history nerd.

After an hour in his company, its impossible not to come away wanting to do more, and do it better. Its about making the most of the years we have, he says. Life is precious and therefore [we should] make the most of each moment.

Go here to read the rest:
Celebrity trainer Matt Roberts on how to live better for longer - The Telegraph